About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the driver, which I purchased with my own money in October of 2021.

My take

The Tour Edge Hot Launch C522 Driver is geared toward the mid to higher-handicap golfer who is looking for a strong initial launch and maximum carry, with minimal downrange dispersion.

About the club I own

• Model: 2021 Tour Edge Hot Launch C522 Driver
• Loft setting: 9.5°
• Shaft type: Mitsubishi Fubuki HL-55
• Shaft flex: Stiff flex

About me

• Average score: 90
• Handicap: 18
• Experience: 30 years of playing golf
• Right/Left-handed: Right-handed
• Typical ball flight: High fade
• Golf ball used: 2022 OnCore ELIXR
• Club swing speed: 95mph

Test conditions

• When I bought the club: October 2021
• Days tested: 14 days
• Where I’ve used it: On the course and at the outdoor range
• Weather and wind conditions: In average weather conditions

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking for a club that would provide good forgiveness on mis-hits, while also keeping my distance-loss to a minimum.

Why I chose this club

I chose the Tour Edge Hot Launch because the brand’s long-proven history of technology was familiar to me, and I knew their equipment worked. They combined existing tech with newer innovations, and that intrigued me. I also chose this club because of its price to value ratio, and the lifetime warranty being offered.

What I love about it

• Forgiveness: The club was above average for forgiveness. Shots that were hit off center still went very straight, with little perceived distance loss.
• Feel: The clubhead has a solid and soft feel on center hits, but I can still feel the feedback of mis-hits in my hands. It isn’t harsh but it will let golfers know when they didn’t quite get all of it. This is a good thing, because it helps me to see patterns in my swing and make corrections.
• Sound: The ARC (Acoustic Resonance Channels) that Tour Edge built into these heads, works. The sound is a solid “thwack” and is pleasing to the ear.
• Shaft Feel: I can feel the shaft release through the impact zone. It’s a pleasant “whip” feeling.
• Aesthetic Appeal: With its nice oval face shape, the club is reminiscent of older Callaway designs.
• Launch Angle: The launch angle is high, in keeping with the manufacturer’s design intent.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Workability: The club is designed for straight flight. For better players, who like to bend their shots, they can still do it with this club, but it will be more difficult.
• Adjustability: The Tour Edge C522 has a fixed hosel design, and is not adjustable—but that’s ok. For those of us who already know what loft setting they want, adjustability isn’t necessary.
• Shaft Performance: The stock Fubuki shaft is designed to hit the ball high, so I changed it out with an Aldila Tour Green NXT MLT to help me to flight the ball lower.
• Grip Feel: The grip is basic all-weather rubber, which offers nothing special here.
• Spin: With the stock shaft, the spin can be a bit high for a player who generates a lot of spin off the driver.

Best shot with this club

Shortly after having reshafted the driver, I hit one of my longest drives of the season. The sound was pure and the trajectory was high, but flattened out at the end. It was easily 15 yards beyond my longest drive for that hole.

Value for the money vs. other options

When considering the cost and performance of this driver compared to any other fixed hosel design, for example the Cleveland Launcher or the Wilson Launch Pad, the Hot Launch C522 easily holds its own in the distance and forgiveness categories.

Final verdict

The Tour Edge Hot Launch C522 driver is a very solid performer for its target audience. The head is a fusion of competent and proven technology of days gone by, with modern design and manufacturing. For players who like high, straight shots, this may be the club to get.